Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation prohibiting a form of therapy aimed at changing a minor’s sexual orientation from gay to straight, the first law of its kind in the nation, officials said Sunday. Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) introduced the measure based on his belief that so-called conversion therapy isn't based on science and is dangerous. “This bill bans non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide,'' Brown said in a statement. ``These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery."

Sacramento, CA — Governor Jerry Brown signed AB144 by state Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena Monday morning. The bill will make it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed and unloaded handgun in public or in vehicles. Violators could face up to a year in prison or a potential fine of $1,000 when the law takes effect Jan 1.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday requiring trial judges to tell jurors that existing bans on conducting their own research about the case, or talking to outsiders about it, applies to electronic and wireless communication. Violations by jury members will be punishable by up to six months in jail for criminal contempt.

Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law a $150 annual wildfire protection fee for property owners in rural areas of California. The Democratic governor announced that he signed the bill, ABX1-29, to ensure rural property owners pay their share of the state's wildland firefighting costs, citing it is essentially a fee for service. Brown's finance spokesman, said the fee is appropriate because the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides an added benefit to rural property owners by attacking wildfires before they reach residential areas.

Amazon announced today that its Associates program is to be terminated in California, in response to a new sales tax bill that was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. "We oppose this bill because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue.", Amazon said said in an email to (now former) California Associates.

Although oxygen therapy has been available for decades, has benefited from more and more widely understood. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

This seems like a classic case of politicians not understanding unintended consequences. Politicians love to ban stuff, but they never take into account the actual response to those bans, and just assume that if the law bans something people will stop doing it. Instead, they may continue to do the action in an even less socially acceptable way -- and that can put a lot more people in danger.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed into law a new package of gun regulations intended to fortify New York's existing assault weapons ban, limit the number of bullets in magazines and strengthen rules that keep the mentally ill from owning firearms. The regulations are the nation's first since last month's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 27 people, including 20 young children at an elementary school. Cuomo, a self-described gun owner, said the tragedy had spurred lawmakers to action and called the legislation a "common sense" measure.